Earl Kuhns, age 81, of 1907 McClellan Dr. SW, Huron, SD, died Monday, June 23, 2008, at the Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls. His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 27, at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home; or Friday morning one hour prior to the service at the church. Earl Charles Kuhns was born on May 30, 1927, to Harold and Velda (Thompson) Kuhns in Huron, SD, where he grew up and received his education. In 1942, Earl and his father founded Kuhns & Sons Plumbing and Heating Company. On January 18, 1945 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged on July 2, 1946. He returned to Huron and resumed his work at his plumbing company. In 1949, Earls brothers, George and Bud, joined the family business. On November 25, 1947, Earl married Mary Swanson in Huron. The couple lived in Huron. On May 12, 1972, Earl married Bonita Bonnie Ohm in Huron, where the couple made their home. Earl worked in the plumbing business until he retired in 1987 due to a medical disability. He was a lifetime member of the Forrest McMullen VFW Post #1776. Earl thoroughly enjoyed the time that he could spend with his family and visit with friends. His many interests included working on cars, race car driving in the 1960s, remodeling homes and building his own home in rural Huron, playing guitar, fishing, and hunting He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Huron; 7 children, Beverly (Michael) Maguire of Horicon, WI, Barbara Small of Huron, Donald (Patti) Kuhns of Huron, David (Sandra) Kuhns of Huron, Monica (Gordon) Scott of Ft. Pierre, Pamela Hornig of Watertown, and Ron Larsen (Kim Krueger) of Huron; 22 grandchildren, Amy (Jim) Furlong, Matt Maguire (special friend Kara), Jason (Shannon) Small, Julie (Brett) Schutt, John (Heidi) Small, Joe Small, Jodi (Steven) Bannister, Jamie Small, Camron Weber, Kimberley Kuhns, Traci (Luke) Ronneberg, Sara Kuhns, Jennifer (Matt) Cornelisen, Kristen Kuhns, Aletha Scott, Andrea Scott, Travis (Stephanie) Head, Tonya Loofboro, Clinton Hornig, Ashley Hornig, Bailey Brodkorb, and Hunter Larsen; 18 great grandchildren; 1 brother, Richard Bud (Betty) Kuhns of Huron; 4 sisters, Elsie Coon of Huron, Delores (Dean) Kasperson of Huron, Marvis Edwards of Huron, and Verla Busch of Huron; 1 sister-in-law, Vivian Kuhns of Spearfish, SD; his mother-in-law, Leona Ohm of Emporia, KS; 1 brother-in-law, Kenneth (Ruth) Ohm of Topeka, KS; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 infant grandchildren; one infant great grandson; 1 son-in-law, Craig Small; 2 brothers, infant Eldon Kuhns and George Kuhns; 2 sisters-in-law, Lyda Kuhns and Ollie Shannon Kuhns; 2 brothers-in-law, Donald Busch, and Lowell Edwards; and 1 nephew, Ronald Coon.